[Reader-list] Invitation activist meeting on the Internet and freedom of expression, Delhi

[Anja Kovacs]

Dear all,

The Centre for Internet and Society (India) and the Central American
Institute for Studies of Social Democracy - DEMOS (Guatemala) have the
pleasure to invite you to a day-long workshop on* the role of the Internet
in fostering freedom of expression and strengthening activism in India*. The
workshop will take place in the Deputy Chairman's Hall, Constitution Club,
Rafi Marg, Delhi 110001, on 4 March 2011.

With the signficant role reported for new technologies in recent revolutions
in Tunesia, Egypt, and elsewhere, activists in India, too, have taken a
renewed interest in the potential of the Internet to support their struggles
for social change and social justice. But what are some of the potential
stumbleblocks activists in India might run into in their exploration of the
Internet's potential? What are the legal restrictions and frameworks
activists should be aware of when they use new technologies in their work?
And what can we do to create an environment in which the online world
unequivocally supports efforts for greater democratisation and social
justice offline, rather than thwart them?

It is questions such as these that this workshop seeks to answer, through an
exciting mix of *panel discussions, unconference sessions, a film screening,
and technical and legal clinics* in its day-long program.  Our hope is that
the workshop will help participants as well as organisers to get a stronger
sense of the potential and challenges of online activism in the particular
context of India, as well as to start building stronger networks among the
activists interested in these issues in the country.

The workshop will take place *in the presence of Mr. Frank La Rue*,
President of our partner organisation, the Central American Institute for
Studies of Social Democracy, as well as UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of
Expression. Participation in the workshop is free; however, we would be
grateful if you could confirm your attendance by emailing Anja Kovacs at
anja at cis-india.org, ideally by 2 March.

A *draft agenda* of the workshop is available here:
http://www.cis-india.org/events/fostering-freedom-of-expression

Hope we will be able to welcome you there!

Best wishes,

Anja Kovacs
Centre for Internet and Society


*INFORMATION ABOUT THE ORGANISERS*

*The Centre for Internet and Society*
The Centre for Internet and Society is located in Bangalore, India. It
critically engages with concerns of digital pluralism and public
accountability in the field of Internet and Society, with particular
emphasis on South-South dialogues and exchange. Through multidisciplinary
research, intervention, and collaboration, it seeks to explore, understand,
and affect the shape and form of the internet, and its relationship with the
political, cultural, and social milieu of our times.

*DEMOS Institute
*The Demos Institute, based in Guatemala, is a research centre that promotes
democratic alternatives for Guatemala, under the human rights framework.
Within DEMOS, there is a research team which supports the mandate of Frank
La Rue, United Nations Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Opinion and
Expression, in the making of his annual reports before the United Nations
Human Rights Council.